BPA highlights letter of biomass support from Congress to EPA

By Biomass Power Association | June 19, 2015

Biomass Power Association thanks Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., and Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Airzona, for their leadership in sending a bipartisan letter of support for biomass power to the U.S. EPA. The letter, sent June 17 and signed by a total of 21 members, outlines the environmental and economic benefits of electricity from “low-value” wood and other agricultural residues. The signers request that the EPA “take action to remove regulatory ambiguities in the treatment of utility-scale biomass power as a renewable resource.”

“We cannot fully express our gratitude to Reps. Kuster and Westerman, along with the other 19 signers and all of their staff members, for supporting biomass in this letter to EPA,” said Bob Cleaves, president and CEO of Biomass Power Association. “Each of the signers recognizes the significant role that biomass plays in his or her district, and the urgent need to preserve the industry. This letter continues the momentum needed to ensure that biomass receives fair treatment in the Clean Power Plan and other regulations.”

“Biomass companies are doing an incredible job of turning unused material into an energy source, and they are creating jobs for workers across the country and in New Hampshire,” said Congresswoman Kuster in a joint press release with Congressman Westerman. “Biomass producers need to know upfront how the EPA’s proposed carbon emission rules will affect them, so these regulations do not come as a surprise and hinder their ability to expand, grow, and continue to hire American workers. I urge EPA to swiftly make it known how these rules will be applied to the biomass industry, and to consider partial- or full-exemption from these rules for sustainable biomass producers.”

“Biomass fuel is important to a growing renewable energy industry in the United States and abroad. We ask that the Environmental Protection Agency create a fair, clear set of regulations sooner rather than later so this industry can have certainty in their processes as they grow. A new industry that sequesters carbon, is environmentally sound, and is creating jobs deserves to be treated fairly and to know the rules upfront. That is what we are requesting from the EPA today,” said Congressman Westerman.

The letter's other signers included:

Peter Welch (D-VT)

Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ)

Peter DeFazio (D-OR)

Scott Tipton (R-CO)

Paul Tonko (D-NY)

Richard Nolan (D-MN)

Collin Peterson (D-MN)

Sean Duffy (R-WI)

Walter B. Jones (R-NC)

Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY)

Mark Takai (D-HI)

Bruce Poliquin (R-ME)

Jerry McNerney (D-CA)

Tony Cardenas (D-CA)

John Garamendi (D-CA)

Dan Benishek (R-MI)

Kurt Schrader (D-OR)

Mark Pocan (D-WI)

Raul Ruiz (D-CA)

The EPA’s Clean Power Plan, also known as Section 111(d), is currently under review by the Office of Management and Budget and is due to be released later this summer.